Insland Sea town

The main setting of the novel is a never-named Inland Sea town in Japan. The town is large enough in size to accommodate a train station, numerous stores, a library, and public transportation, but is not too large to be dangerous –thus allowing Root to wander around at will and stay home alone as needed. It is in this town that the sister-in-law takes a house with a cottage at the back of the property where the Professor comes to live. It is also in this town that the Housekeeper and her son live, and where the Housekeeper works while Root attends school.

The cottage

The cottage is located at the back of the property of the sister-in-law. It is a small but cozy, and is noted as being strewn with reminding notes and dust. The cottage features a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, a living...